MICHAEL ANTHONY BLOG

The Myth of Progressive Christianity

The Myth of Progressive Christianity

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” – 2 Timothy 4:3 (NIV)

There’s a breed of revisionist Christ-follower making the rounds on social media these days. They are not at all selfless. They are selfish and self-serving. In the name of love, they hate. In the name of tolerance, they are intolerant. Meet the progressive “Christian,” the man or woman masquerading as a follower of Jesus Christ. They are walking contradictions, not living sacrifices.

In the name of progress, progressive “Christians” have regressed – and they want you and throngs of the orthodox to follow them in their downward spiral of moral, theological and social decay. They defend killing the unborn (abortion), and embrace biblically alternate views of God, heaven and hell, gender redefinition and more. Pay attention, because they are not merely after you, but also your children. They are hell-bent on change – not because they’ve been liberated, but because they’re deceived. Speaking out against this brand of Christianity isn’t unkind. It’s necessary because it’s a big deception — and the Bible warns strongly against deception.

THE PROGRESSIVE CONTRADICTION

The terms “progressive Christian” and “progressive Christianity” are oxymorons – only embraceable when we ignore huge portions of the Bible to suit a liberal, diabolical agenda. Anyone in favor of abortion in the name of it being a “woman’s right to choose” while claiming to be a Christ-follower is a walking contradiction, not a living sacrifice. The push for redefining sex and sexuality apart from clear biblical standards follows from their morally deprived, self-serving system of ignoring huge, obvious portions of the Bible. They must ignore it, because it is literally impossible to support their views with the sacred text. Instead, they put their own “logic” and unreasonable thinking on par with the writings of the Scripture.

One may claim to know and follow Christ all day long in blog, Twitter and Facebook posts. If you teach and promote things that oppose the sacredness of life for the unborn, the sacredness of sex in the context of heterosexual marriage, you certainly have every freedom to do so. But the rest of us, those who actually know what the Bible teaches and do our best to put it into practice, albeit imperfectly, have every right – and biblical obligation – to call you on the carpet.

Heresy and heretics are not to be embraced. They are to be exposed and avoided. The progressive “Christian” is a heretic, embracing and promoting false teachings about Christ, the Bible and God. That’s not a small thing. It’s huge – and you should speak up when you see it happening and warn everyone you know.

IT’S ALL RELATIVEThe surge of progressive Christians and Christianity is a reflection of the growing rejection that absolute truth exists. Relativism reigns in the twenty-first century, making ours an age ripe for Scripture-twisting folks to redefine God – and His teachings – in their own image.

Don’t fret – but do pay attention: the Bible predicted this uprising long ago. Paul said it well in 2 Timothy 4:3. Beware the fake Christ-follower appearing to be sincere, loving, tolerant and compassionate. Jesus’ words are more pertinent today than when He first spoke them nearly 2,000 years ago in Matthew 7:15 (NIV):

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”

DUCKS AND WOLVES
If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it’s a duck. Progressive “Christians” are following a Jesus – but He’s not the Jesus of Scripture. He’s the Jesus they refashioned to suit their own means. If someone claims to be a Christ-follower, but supports the murder of the unborn in the guise of a woman’s right to choose, or if they use linguistic gymnastics to reinterpret the basic meanings of words, that’s a huge red flag.

Yes, we live in the twenty-first century, but claiming to follow the biblical Jesus still requires that we follow His teachings as found in the Bible, not distort them to suite our own aim.

Do you see them? They are all around and increasing in number. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing, claiming to know and follow Christ, when all they are really doing is following a retooled, mythical Jesus to suit their desires. It’s time for the faithful to stand up and speak out, to follow the biblical Jesus like never before.

These false teachers have redefined GRACE into meaning God will put up with anything! He will NOT. The God of the Bible is HOLY! He is PURE,RIGHT,FAIR,AND GOOD BEYOND WHAT THE HUMAN MIND AND HEART CAN COMPREHEND. He is so PATIENT that he gave Pharoh 10 chances to repent. But there comes a time when He ACTS. HIS LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE IS A FIERCE JRALOUS LOVE .

WHEN MEN OF GOD BEGIN TO IDENTIFY THESE FALSE TEACHINGS IT WILL BE A DIVISIVE SEASON. BUT IT IS SO NEEDED . MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING TRUTH ARE BEING FED LIES. AND GOD WILL ALWAYS SEND MESSENGERS WITH THE TRUTH TO TRY AND RESCUE THEM FROM THE FOWLERS SNARE.

I pray,along with others in the body that in His infinite mercy God will continue to raise up men who are humbled and broken before Him to tell THE TRUTH to a nation steeped in deception. God bless you and may he stay close to you and continue to raise you up.

I fully agree with this commentary. The problem is that Martin Luther started this all and now non-Catholics are calling foul. The Bible also calls us to be One Body of Christ. I just don’t find it coincidence that the National Week of Repentance is 499 years later.

I totally agree with this and would add that we must also be sensitive to the traditions of men that have been passed down over the centuries, even millennia, which have crept into modern Christianity. There are things that I’ve found even in "traditional" Christianity (aside from the liberal Christianity you have pointed out) that are simply not what The Bible teaches when one is truly searching and digging into the word with zeal and in prayer for guidance by the Holy Spirit, who is truth and leads us into all truth. One example of this is the concept of eternal (aionian) damnation in the Lake of Fire. Without going into a full-blown theological discussion on a comment thread I would urge my brethren to not place a blot on the character and plan of Yahweh for all of creation. There is an endless amount of evidence in The Bible backing up the fact that suffering in the LoF is for an "age" and that the wrath of God is NOT eternal but punitive for the purposes of remediation (Lam 3:31-33, Col 1:15-28, 3:11, 1 Cor 15:22-28, Eph 1:10,23, 4:5,10,13, Rev 5:13, Phil 2:9-11, Is 45:22-23, Tit 2:11-14, Jn 1:7, Heb 2:10-18, 1 Tim 2:3-6, Rom 5:18-19, Jn 17:2, 12:32, 6:39, 1 Jn 2:2, Rom 11:32…). For me it is undeniable – not only from Scriptural study by the leading of the Spirit of Christ Yahshua, but confirmed by my own testimony which He has given to me as a witness to His unfailing love and redemptive power towards even the most unrighteous. I know that God is the only changer of hearts and that no one should take another man at his word with something like this. I encourage Christians to seek the truth without the preconceived notions imposed by historical misinterpretations and misinformed pastors. You will find there are other things that stand out as truth when you develop discernment and faith in our all-powerful, longsuffering, compassionate, just and loving Father in Heaven. A great place to start this search is at a site that was recommended to me by a close friend where you can download free books by a teacher named Joseph Herrin at heart4god.ws. I have not found anyone with a more comprehensive view of Scriptures and knowledge of God in my search for truth. He exposes many problems with modern Christianity and points out many aspects of Scripture that are not taught because of how deep they show the Bible’s message to be (for example, types, foreshadowing and symbolism that add greater meaning to the surface moral and literal interpretations showing more about the nature of God than the letter of the law). We must grow up to stomach solid food and not just spiritual milk, to understand the mysteries of God as Paul, Peter, John, David, Isaiah and Jeremiah clearly did. I believe brother Herrin has been anointed by God for this very purpose so that His lost children can shake off the dust of men and get to know Him on a very personal level through a greater understanding of His character, will and ways. If we are to truly repent, we must actually lay down our own lives and seek Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. We must be content with whatever provision He gives and whatever sacrifice He asks us to make. Perhaps then we can find some unity in the House of God. Christ did make a profound statement asking whether He would find faith on the earth when He returns. I pray that all our brethren, elders and youth, men and women, all follow the most important commandment given by Christ – to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength – first and foremost. That, brothers and sisters, will require taking up our own cross in this apostate and unbelieving world which is being flooded with deception by the ruler of this age that deceives the whole world. We must "come out of her my people," gird up the loins of our minds, put on the whole armor of God, be alert and sober watchmen, test ourselves to make sure we are remaining in the faith and test the spirits to prove the acceptable and perfect will of God. May our Father in Heaven bless and keep you with mercy, grace and understanding in these days of prophetic fulfillment. Here is the patience and faith of the saints. Those who overcome will be granted the right to sit with Him on His throne, to rule and reign with a rod of iron and yes, brethren who are truly IN Christ, we will judge angels.

Joshua Landers

“And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 22:5

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:10

Sorry you felt that way, Keith. You might want to read the remainder of the blog, as well as other things we’ve put out. There’s nothing hateful or “anti-Jesus” about it at all. Quite the contrary. Thanks for sharing honestly, and we wish you all the best.